The GP2 Series and GP2 Asia Series is based on a set of five guiding principles, which the organisers refer to as "our values." These values form the root of the existence of the series, and are the main considerations in any changes that we make to the series regulations.
Performance
A 600bhp engine, carbon brakes, ground effect, slick tyres and paddle shift gear selection... the GP2 Series cars are no toys. So delicate are their intricacies that they have prepared 12 of our drivers for life in Formula One. The cars hit 200kph in 6.7 seconds and have a top speed of 325kph, with no driver aids to help handling. Skill is the ultimate key.
Cost control
The GP2 Series is the world’s first motorsport championship to be built around a fully integrated strategy. This means that the GP2 Series teams have access to cheaper parts (through centralised purchasing), a universal hospitality service and a dedicated communications department, which have been established to reduce stress and cost.
The show
The GP2 Series weekend format has been formulated to test the drivers’ skill and to give the fans a real show. With two races per weekend, compulsory pit stops, and a reverse grid for the sprint race on Sunday, the GP2 Series has quickly and rightfully established itself as one of the most exciting motor racing categories in the world.
Safety
The GP2 Series has always placed safety as its highest priority. Our car was designed within and was subjected to and passed every one of the FIA F1 safety tests. With the wearing of the HANS device also compulsory, our commitment to safety has been evident from the outset.
Training
The GP2 Series was created with one simple and yet crucial aim: to provide every member of its family for life in Formula One. Drivers, engineers, mechanics, data technicians, photographers, journalists... the GP2 Series exists to give everyone the training to take them to F1.

GP2 Series cars
Identical specification GP2 Series cars are used by all of the teams, and features a Dallara chassis powered by a V8 Renault engine and Bridgestone tyres.
Chassis
The 2006 specification GP2 Car has been designed by Dallara Automobili. The 2006 GP2 car features a biplane rear wing, with the triplane rear wing used in 2005 only to be used at the Monaco race. The front upper and lower wishbones have been reinforced, as have the front and rear suspension uprights.
Engine
The 4 litre V8 engine features internal, cartographic and software upgrades designed to improve performance and fuel consumption. The engine produces about 580 horsepower (432.5 kW).
Gearbox
The 2006 gearbox has been manufactured by GearTek and features an 8-position barrel with ratchet body and software upgrades as well as a new transverse shafts fixing system designed to facilitate improved gear selection.
Tyres
Bridgestone is the single tyre supplier for the GP2 Racing Series. Grooved dry tyres were used when the series started in 2005, regulation changed in 2006 in favour of slick tyres.
Bridgestone is supplying three slick tyre compounds for racing on dry (soft, medium and hard), as well as a wet specification. The choice of tyre being raced is made jointly by the manufacturer and the GP2 Series organizers prior to each event.
Other parts
Brembo is supplying a new development of monobloc brake calipers and disc bells, which are exclusive to GP2.
The car also features internal cooling upgrades, a new water radiator, radiator duct, oil/water heat exchanger, modified oil degazer, new oil and water pipes and new heat exchanger fixing brackets.
Performance
According to research and pre-season stability tests, the 2005 model can go 0 to 200 km/h in 6.70 seconds. The car has a top speed of 320 km/h meaning that it is the fastest single seater racing car bar Formula One, Champ Car and Indy Racing League models. The cars are predicted to be reliable and are within less than ten seconds per lap of the typical Formula One car.

How the concept of the GP2 Series came about
The GP2 Series came into existence in 2004 as a dream. How do you decide which drivers deserve a shot at F1 glory? How do you recognise which ones have the talent, and which have lucked into the best drive? How can you differentiate between all the feeder categories that exist and determine which driver is the best?
The answer was the GP2 Series.

Born from a collaborative effort of forward thinking by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Renault F1 Team boss Flavio Briatore, a decision was reached to design and launch a new feeder category that would be closer in design, performance and professionalism to Formula One than any series that had ever existed.
The first task was to find commited and strong partners for the new formula, and immediately Renault and Bridgestone put their names forward. Their input into the series from its inception has been at the heart of the series. Through Renault, a strong engineering base, grounded in decades of success in Formula Cost effectice, competitive and a proving groundOne, was assured. And with Bridgestone, the most succesful tyre manufacturer in recent times in the pinnacle of global motorsport, confirmed as sole tyre supplier, the foundations had been set.

Cue Dallara's entry as official supplier of the car itself. The design brief was to manufacture a car that was cost effective, but performed at such high levels that it would be a challenge for engineers and drivers alike, and prepare members of every team for life in Formula One.
The Series launched to high acclaim with the first tests of the new car being carried out at Circuit Paul Ricard in France. Later that year 12 teams signed up to race in the inaugural season, and at the start of 2005 testing begain in ernest.
The GP2 Series had arrived, and was about to revolutionise the stepping stones to Formula One.

Race weekend format (subject to confirmation)
On Friday there is a 30-minute free practice session and a 30-minute qualifying session. The qualifying session decides the grid order for Saturday's race which has a length of 180 kilometres.
During Saturday's race, each driver has to make a pit stop in which at least two tires have to be changed.
On Sunday there is a sprint race of 120 kilometres. The grid is decided by the Saturday result with top 8 being reversed, so the driver who finished 8th on Saturday will start from pole position and the winner will start from 8th place.

Point system (subject to confirmation)
Pole for Saturday races: 2 points
Saturday races: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 points for top 8 finishers
Sunday races: 6-5-4-3-2-1 points for top 6 finishers
Fastest lap: 1 point in each race. Driver recording fastest lap has to drive 90% of race laps. The driver must now also start the race from his allocated grid position to be eligible to claim the fastest lap.
With this points system, the most number of points anyone can score in one round is 20 by claiming pole position, winning both races with the fastest lap in each race. This feat has only been achieved once in GP2 Racing's short history, by Brazilian Nelson Angelo Piquet. He scored the maximum 20 points in the 9th round of the 2006 season in Hungary.